Layman Description:

The deep cervical extensors are considered important for the rehabilitation of patients with neck pain although knowledge on their activation is scarce. Intramuscular electromyography of semispinalis cervicis (SC) was used in chronic adult patients with neck pain and healthy controls. Results showed an independent neural control of SC at different spinal levels. Moreover, patients with neck pain revealed reduced and less specific activation of SC at different spinal levels. This was weakly correlated with tenderness of the tissues to pressure. Manual resistance at level C2 activated SC at C3 more than other resistances suggesting this as a useful exercise.

magnetic resonance imaging